RISC Model Explained

"The RISC Schools Model (RSM) brings together all stakeholders as a learning community to create and then continuously refine a system that improves the educational experience of EACH individual student, allowing them to reach their full potential, through standards and assessments that are authentic, challenging, fair and consistent. RSM causes systemic and sustainable changes to the educational process resulting in learning communities."
Re-Inventing Schools Coalition (RISC) is assisting other districts and organizations to put into place a system that provides the foundation for educating all students in an effective, meaningful way. Co-founded by Richard DeLorenzo, former Superintendent of Chugach School District, RISC is helping other districts make system change by using successful tools and processes developed. Chugach won the 2001 Malcolm Baldrige National RISC Award for creating a successful performance system using input from schools, communities, and businesses and allowing all students to meet with success and take ownership of their educational careers. Since then, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has provided funding to RISC, as well as the Rasmuson Foundation, to replicate components of the Model for others. RISC is a non-profit foundation interested in networking, collaborating and helping all agencies and organizations utilize best practices in order to serve all students.
In this Model, time is the variable and learning is constant. The difference between this Model and other reforms is the systemic foundation. The Model has been proven, over time, to support processes and programs that meet the needs of all students. Many of the programs districts are currently using are valid, and effective and can be incorporated into areas of the Model. The Model begins with the question of what we're about: "What do we want our children to learn and why?" and uses data (both formative and summative) to drive decisions in all areas.
This Model incorporates best practices from research to develop systems of excellence, which meet the individual needs of all students. District funding is tied to an on-going evaluation process based on progress along the Re-Inventing Schools continuum and focusing on continuous improvement.
The Details:
Re-Inventing Schools Coalition is focused on systemic change using researched based methods in 4 components:

http://www.reinventingschools.org/?q=model